With the theatrical adaptation set to debut in a matter of days, it comes as no surprise that Warner Bros. has released The Man from U.N.C.L.E: The Complete Season One. Debuting in 1964, the show was one of several inspired by the success of James Bond (Bond creator Ian Fleming even contributed some ideas at the request of series co-creator Norman Felton). Extremely popular, the series ran for four seasons and 105 episodes, spawning action figures, lunchboxes, and other merchandise, as well as a spin-off, The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. The first season contains 29 episodes and is the only season shot in black and white.
American Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn) and Russian Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum) are super agents working for U.N.C.L.E., which stands for United Network Command for Law and Enforcement. The goal was to wipe out THRUSH, an organization of criminals and crazies who wanted to take over the world. During the first season, David McCallum’s role was surprisingly small. He appears only briefly in several episodes, but his popularity led to the agents being paired.
Each episode has a set formula. A new case, or as the episode titles put it, “affair,” assigned by their chief, the British Alexander Waverly (Leo G. Carrol), usually set in an exotic locale, a guest star playing a THRUSH operative up to no good and an innocent bystander caught in the middle (much of the time an attractive woman). He or she would ultimately be pivotal in catching the bad guys.
For me, the most memorable episodes of season one include two that guest-starred McCallum’s wife at the time, Jill Ireland (“The Quadrapartite Affair” and “The Giuco Piano Affair”), originally intended as a two-parter, but aired separately during the season. Ireland plays the scientist daughter of a prominent nuclear scientist kidnapped by THRUSH. Well written, both episodes have action, a nice level of tension, and strong performances.
The series attracted a notable roster of guest stars throughout its run. Season one features appearances by Richard Anderson, Robert Culp, James Doohan, Anne Francis, Jill Ireland, Leonard Nimoy, Carroll O’Connor, Slim Pickens, Kurt Russell, Alexander Scourby, William Shatner, Sharon Tate, and Fritz Weaver among others.
Many fans will say this is the series best season; the stories have a level of a tension that’s absent in subsequent years. While the series was still very good, it got a bit looser, likely influenced by other hit shows like Batman and Lost in Space.
Presented in widescreen, the episodes are uncut and look very good considering they’re fifty years old. The Dolby Digital mono soundtrack sounds very good throughout. Offering clear dialogue and music.
There are no extras available.
